Metal chair



E. C. BOOTH Jan. 11, 1949.

METAL CHAIR 2 shuts-sheet 1 Filed April, s, 1944 INVENTOR. A" [7H/QI. C 500779,

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E. c. BOOTH Jan. 11, 1949.

METAL CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April '3. 1944 Patented Jan. 11, 1949 METAL CHAIR Earl C. Booth, columbus, 1nd., 'assignmu Nomm- Sparks Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ind., a corporation oi' Indiana Application April 3, 1944, serial No. 529,349

(ci. 1455-194) f 5 Claims. l

My invention relates to a metal chair and particularly to a relatively small chair in lwhich the seat and back are formed of sheet-metal stampings interconnected and supported by bent pieces of metal tubing.

It is the object of my invention to produce a chair of the type indicated which car. be simply and economically manufactured and which will be of sturdy construction and attractive appearance.

In carrying out my invention I employ two tubular supporting members each of which has a generally horizontal intermediate stretch disposed at the side of and secured to the chair-seat. The chair-back is formed of front and rear metal stampings having nested peripheral flanges and outwardly projecting ears which extend inwardly through slots in the sides of upwardly extending stretches of the tubular members. From the front corners of the seat of the chair-bottom, the tubular members extend downwardly, then rearwardly along the oor or other supporting surface, and then inwardly toward each other, their ends being located in alined and abutting relationship. A connector formed of sheet metal and located within the abutting ends of the tubes serves to interconnect them.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Figs. 1 and 2 are side and front elevations respectively of the chair; Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan View of the chair-back, with parts thereof broken away in shown sections; Fig. 4 is a fragmental front elevation of the back; Fig. 5 is a fragmental view of the back with portions thereof broken away; Fig. 6 is a fragmental section on the line 6 6 of Fig. l; Fig. -7 is an axial section illustrating the joint between the two tubular members; and Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 3 8 of Fig. 7.

The chair shown in the "drawings comprises a seat I0 formed as a sheet-metal stamping with a downturned peripheral flange II. The chairback is formed of two sheet-'metal stampings I2 and I3 provided respectively with peripheral flanges I 4 and I5, which are received in nesting relationship as will be apparent from Fig. 5.

Each of the tubular members which serve to interconnect and support the seat and back has an intermediate, generally horizontal stretch I1 extending along one side of the seat I0; an upper, generally vertical stretch I8 extending along the ends of' the seat-back; afront, generally vertical stretch I9; a lower, generally horizontal stretch andan end portion 2 I. The end portions 2 I, as

will be clear from Figs. 1 and 2, are located in 2 alined and abutting relationship, and are interconnected by a means hereinafter described.

At the sides of, the seat I0, the ilange II is formed to provide an outwardly presented groove of arcuate cross-section adapted to receive the intermediate stretch Il of the associated tubular supporting member. At intervals along the length of this groove, the sheet-metal is displaced inwardly of the seat to form bosses 25. The inner end of each of such bosses is perforated to receive a screw 2B, desirably of the flat-head type, and the metal around the screw-receiving perforation is shaped to provide a countersink adapted to accommodate the head of such' screw. In alinement with each of the bosses 25, the inner wall of the tube Il is perforated toreceive the screw 26. Deslrably, the screw 26 is of the selfy tapping type and the metal surrounding the perforation in the tube-Wall is displaced inwardly, as

will be clear from Fig. 6.

Along Athe sides of the chair-back, the nesting flanges It and I5 are shaped to provide an outwardly presented groove of arcuate cross-section adapted to receive the upper stretch I8 of the tubular member. Along each 'of such grooves, I

provide a pair of spaced ears 30 adapted to extend into the adjacent tubular member through a slot 3| in the wall thereof. Conveniently,` the ears 30 are formed by portions of the nesting flanges III and-I5 bent outwardly and secured together by lrivets 32. In the rear of the upper stretch I8 of the tubular member, and spaced at approximately from the slot 3l the tube-wall is perforated to receive a screw 33 which extends inwardly of the tube and into a. hole in thel ear 3d. Desirably, the screw 33 is of the flat-head or oval-head type, and the metal around the perforation in the tube wall is displaced inwardly so that the head of the screw will not 'project beyond the outer surface of the tubing. As the screws 33 are tightened, the ears 30 are drawny At each end, thel connector lis formed to provide a bayonet-joint groove comprising a portion 3 4| extending axially inward from the end of the connector and joined at its inner end to a. helically extending portion 42. The helically extending portions 42 of both grooves are o1' the same hand..

Each of the grooves 4|-42 is adapted to receive a boss 43 formed by inward displacement of the wall of the tube-portion 2|. The bosses 42 are desirably located at the bottom of tube-portions 2 l where they will be inconspicuous.

In assembling the chair, the connector lll is brought into association with one of the tubeportions 2|, with the boss 43 on such tube-portion located in the helical portion 42 of the groove of the connector. The portion 2| oi' the other supporting member is then slipped over the projecting end of the connector 40 with its boss 43 entering the groove 4I-42. By relative rotation of the two supporting members about the common axis-of their alined portions 2|, the opposed ends of the portions 2| are brought firmly into contact with each other. The helical grooveportions 42 and the bosses 43 arev so arranged that when the opposed ends of the tube-portions oi the back an outwardly presented groove, backsupporting members of metal tubing seated respectively in said grooves, the wall of each oi' said back-supporting members adjacent the associated groove being provided with one or more longitudinally extending slots, ears on said back extending into said slots, and means for retaining said ears in said slots.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said ears are out-bent portions oi said telescoped anges.

4. In a chair, a back comprising front and rear sheet-metal stampings having anges which overlapA each other at the sides of the back, back-supporting members of metal tubing extending along such overlapping flanges, the wall of each of said back-supporting members adia-l cent the associated anges being provided with one or more slots, portions of said overlapping 2| are rmly in contact with each other, the

horizontal stretches of the supporting members will be substantially co-planar. Desirably, the design is such that in the rotation of the two supporting members the ends of thealined portions 2| come'into contact slightly before the f planar relationship after the ends of the portions` 2| have engaged each other.

Afterthe two supporting members have been assembled inl the manner. just described, their overlap each other at the sides of the back, backsupporting members of metal tubing extending along such overlapping flanges. the wall o1 each oi' said back-supporting members adjacent the associated iianges being provided with one or more slots, portions o'f both said overlapping anges being bent outwardly to form ears extending into said slots, and means for holding said ears in place in said slots.

upper members are sprung apart and the back sertedandugntened to hold tneseat anc-back I in place. l

I claim 'as my invention: Y

1'.` In a chair, a back comprising frontand rear sheet-metal stampings provided with telescoping peripheral` anges formed to provide at each side of the back an outwardly. presented groove, back;- supportingmembers of metal tubing `seated respectively in said grooves, the wall of 'each voi.' said back-supportinglmembers adiacent the'associated groove-being provided with one or more longitudinallyextending slots; ears' on said back' extending .into'said slots, 'and-screws passing through the walls ofithevback-suppcrting membersand into said ears, 'f

2. In a chair, a man; comprising frontend rear sheetfmetal stampings provided 4with telescoping peripheraianges formedto provide ateaich side EARL C. BOOTH.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the 'nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 950,194 Stockwell Feb. 22, 1910 1,319,400 Loveland Oct. 21, 1919 1,389,317 Noggle Aug. 30, 1921 1,467,830 Boggs Sept. 11, 1923 1,791,453 Mies Feb. 3, 1931 1,829,366 Mittleburg Oct. 27, 1931 2,046,715 Zerbee July 7, 1936 2,132,482 Klaiber Oct. 11, 1938 2,151,628 Van Derveer Mar. 21, 1939 2,159,098 Morgan May 23, 1939 2,250,790 Baumker July 29, 1941 2,276,308 Hugh Mar. 17, 1942 2,306,878 Greitzer Dec. 29, 1942 2,346,448 Noblitt et al. v. Apr. 11, 1944 2,346,449 Noblitt et al Apr. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date l717,661 France Oct. 20, 1931 784,431

l France Apr. 29, 1935 

